A Sinn Féin councillor has shut down a request from the Orange Order to reopen talks about parading on the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
It follows increased tension after the High Court quashed a Parades Commission decision to ban the Orange Order from marching through the area in Portadown. The parade has been banned since 1998.
The Parades Commission was found to have made a procedural error in its decision-making, but now some unionist leaders are using the legal victory as a campaign to restore the march.
On Friday, an Orange lodge in Portadown said it was “ready and willing to engage in mediation,” without any preconditions, and called on residents’ groups to do the same.
Responding on social media, Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson ruled out any talks.
“Nobody wants to see a parade down the Garvaghy Road,” she said.
“There will be no talks, mediation or otherwise about a parade on the Garvaghy Road.
“However, if the (Orange Order) wishes to meet us to talk about how they might end their divisive ways then let’s do that.”
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins criticised disuption to residents after the ‘Last Saturday’ parades in Newry. (Liam McBurney/PA)
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins spoke out against “absolutely atrocious” disruption in Newry as the Royal Black Institution’s ‘Last Saturday’ parade took place.
“The loss of trade for local businesses, and residents hemmed into their homes as traffic is diverted around the town is totally unacceptable,” she said.
She said her party had made representations to the Parades Commission weeks ago, but that Newry had been “essentially shut down.”
The DUP’s Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, called it an “absolutely appalling position from Sinn Féin.”
“Hardly a minute from Liz Kimmons praising the pedestrianisation of Belfast for the Fleadh, she is out criticising the holding of a cultural celebration of music, family and community in Newry,” she said.
“Why? Why indeed. Let’s be very clear – the republican opposition to the cultural expression of the unionist tradition here in Northern Ireland is pure sectarianism and bigotry.”
Describing it as a denial of human rights, she said the “demonisation” of the Orange Order was “hate based on sectarianism and prejudice.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. (Liam McBurney/PA)
“I give respect, but I also demand it in return. That’s how it works. It is long past time the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin ends. It is time everyone here gets on the same page,” she said.
The Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows also said Ms Kimmins describing residents as ‘hemmed in” was “provocative language of the past.”
“Last Saturday parades are once a year and well notified. This post contrasts with the mutual respect shown during Fleadh. Liz Kimmins should dial down the rhetoric and focus on the potholes disrupting everyone.”